Start your day with a group ride along one of Ottawa-Gatineau's fantastic cycling routes, then spend the day checking out clinics and activities. Learn cycling skills from instructors and get to know your bike with the help of MEC's expert mechanics. Marvel at gravity-defying trials riders, take your kids to the bike decorating station for colourful fun, browse our vendor marketplace and bike swap, meet cycling advocacy groups and clubs, and much more!

Registration for our group rides and clinics is now open! Registered participants will be eligible to win prizes provided by Bikefest partners, and will receive a Virtual Goody Bag featuring exclusive offers from Westboro businesses.

Ah, spring, when a commuter’s fancy turns to wanting more time outside and less time in the confines of a vehicle!

The street sweepers are out in full force in Ottawa, and as the last patches of snow melt away at last, cycling conditions are improving steadily. So why not trade in your daily car or bus ride to work for a cruise on your bike?

Throughout May, the City of Ottawa and Envirocentre will celebrate Bike to Work Month, an annual challenge to commuters to ditch driving for cycling – a cost-efficient and healthy way to get to work. Commuters are encouraged to pledge their participation and track their commuting distance to be eligible to win great prizes – including a new MEC bike.

Bike to Work Month highlights include Workplace Lunch and Learn seminars, Bikemobile visits, bike repair and maintenance workshops, and more. For more information and to sign up, visit www.biketoworkottawa.com – and be sure to visit Envirocentre’s booth at MEC Bikefest! They’ll have OC Transpo’s Rack and Roll bus available for folks to practice mounting their bikes, and they’ll be happy to answer questions about the program. And if you’re totally new to commuting, plan to attend an MEC Introduction to Cycle Commuting workshop during Bikefest, too – to help you feel confident and excited about the challenge.

Make the switch from miles-per-gallon to miles-per-burrito (or whatever your cycling fuel of choice may be)! You’ll be glad you did.

Ask MEC Ottawa Outreach Coordinator Chris Chapman what he enjoys most about cycling, and you’ll get an answer far too long to fit in a single blog post. Chris has traveled far and wide on two wheels, in all manner of conditions, after being introduced to the sport by a friend.

“Dave and I were into rock climbing, but then he went away to university, gave up climbing, and became a cyclist. I bought a bike so that I could keep hanging out with him.

“My first-ever ride on a road bike was in the famous Peak District in the UK. By the end of the ride, Dave had to ride next to me, pushing me with one hand on my back, because I had bonked (suddenly run out of energy, which happens when the body runs out of its main fuel, glycogen) and could hardly pedal at all – and at that point, I became hooked.

“I discovered a real love of cycling when I joined the Manchester Wheelers club and went touring for the first time. It was a solo effort, through pouring rain, on a borrowed bike with borrowed panniers and a leaky tent. I didn’t bring enough food, and I ended up finishing the trip in Sunderland – which is not exactly a tourist destination.”

Undeterred, Chris continued touring, with friends and on his own, and enjoyed countless magical experiences, including going wild camping in the Hebrides, in Scotland.

“We ate mussels straight out of a loch, cooked on a campfire. They tasted incredible, if a bit gritty.”

Now that he’s in Ontario – Chris first joined the staff at MEC Toronto in 2011 before coming to Ottawa in 2013 – he’s keen to tour close to home.

“My dream trip right now is 100 miles long on beautiful gravel roads in Ontario, followed by barbecue and beer. That, and riding the Dirty Kanza, a 200-mile long gravel road race in Kansas. There are two goals with that race, to do it under a certain length of time, or to finish while it’s still light out.”

Chris’s number one piece of advice to anyone thinking of riding is – emphatically – just to do it.

“It doesn’t matter what type of cycling you’re doing, just cycling is the most important part – whether it’s commuting, mountain biking, road biking, whatever. And at least once, you have to go bike camping or touring. It’s such a liberating experience, whether you’re riding fast or taking your time. You can cover 70km a day and have a fantastic time. You get to see everything.

“The bike is disarming. You can be sitting on a bench next to your bike, having a break, and people will start conversations with you. People who arrive in a car will never be welcomed in the same way as people who turn up on bicycles – getting an extra-big portion at breakfast or being offered help with laundry. It’s great.”

I don’t like traffic. Or hills, up or down. Or bumpy trails, or sharp corners, or loose gravel. Among other things. I grip my handlebars more tightly than is strictly necessary, and sometimes I ride my brakes.

But in spite of all that, I just can’t stay off the silly thing.

I grew up near the Ottawa River Pathway, and until my mid-20s I rode occasionally, recreationally – up and down the gravel trails at a leisurely pace, with no destination in mind and no gear except some water or a book, in case I wanted to stop somewhere and read.

When I moved to Edmonton for school, my dad insisted that I needed a bike for getting around – and escorted me to get one, a red Norco Scrambler – but I didn’t really use it until my graduate advisor talked me into accompanying her to an MEC Gearswap. It was a nerve-racking and life-changing expedition. On that day, Karen turned me into a bike commuter, in spite of myself. The bike allowed me to sleep in a little later before dashing off to classes, and gave me a viable Plan B on those occasions when I missed the bus. Definitely a lazy person’s ally.

My Scrambler moved with me to Kimberley BC a couple years later, but saw limited action – I don’t like biking uphill, remember – until the completion of the amazing 27-kilometre Rails to Trails pathway, a converted railway connecting Kimberley and Cranbrook. The gentle grades and spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains and the St. Mary’s River are positively addictive. When I found myself carrying my bike across several kilometres of deep snow on an early spring ride, determined to cover the entire length of the path, I knew I’d reached a level of dedication I had not foreseen. Even multiple close-range bear sightings didn’t keep me away.

Three summers ago, finding myself sans wheels on an extended visit home, I rescued my dad’s beloved yet neglected Peugeot road bike from the garage and took it to a nearby shop for a tune-up and a new saddle. I never really figured out the friction shifting, and my mount/dismount technique around the oversized (for me) frame was – to put it very delicately – inelegant, but that bike became my new best friend.

In 2012 I rode – briefly, while wearing the most ridiculous grin – with both hands off the handlebars for the first time. That was also the year that, I’m proud to say, I almost managed to repair my own derailleur singlehandedly. I’m still mustering the nerve to hit the mountain bike trails, though my biggest fear in that department now is of having witnesses. I haven’t quite forgotten the expression on the face of the woman who watched me land in a rosebush while trying to get off the Peugeot.

Getting a new bike is a thrill, whether it’s a shiny, just-built, latest model or a new-to-you ride that’s been someone else’s trusty steed, too. But before you commit, though, be sure to take your prospective bike out for a spin and make sure it’s really the one for you.

So, how do you know?

A quick survey of staff cyclists here at MEC Ottawa yielded one answer in particular right off the bat: Make sure the bike fits properly and that you feel good riding it. Your upper body shouldn’t feel too stretched out – having to lean far forward to reach the handlebars – or compressed, and you should be able to pedal without hyperextending your legs – or having your knees deeply bent all the time.

“I want to feel comfortable on a new bike right away, to be able to ride with a relaxed body position,” said Ryan, one of our mechanics. “On top of that, there’s a gut feeling.”

How you’re set up for your test ride is important too. The bike should be built properly, the brakes and shifting should work, and the tires should be inflated correctly. “Those things tell you about the bike shop you’re dealing with – whether they care about your experience and pay attention to detail.”

One of our group ride leaders, Mike, suggested looking for specific qualities in different kinds of bikes. “If you’re trying out a road bike, you’ll want to pay attention to the bike’s responsiveness to your pedal strokes. On a mountain bike, you’d be looking for agility. With a touring bike or commuter model, the number one consideration will be comfort.”

Test rides are available at MEC Ottawa as long as the roads are dry. Cyclists who ride clipless can bring in their own pedals and shoes, and our staff will install them on the bike you’re test riding, so that you can go for a longer ride and get a better sense of how it’ll all work for you.

MEC Ottawa’s cycling team leader, also named Mike, advises cyclists to test-ride bikes for as long as they can. “Get a sense of how the bike handles, how it corners, and its acceleration. Take it up hills to see how it climbs, and of course, notice how the bike fits.”

Ottawa’s natural landscape is undeniably beautiful – glittering rivers, lush green spaces, old trees, and of course the rolling Gatineau hills – and throughout the city it’s enhanced by a vast array of outdoor artworks by local, Canadian, and international artists.

Some pieces, like Nature Girls at the British High Commission downtown, are hidden in plain sight, often overlooked by busy passers-by. Others – think Louise Bourgeois’s massive spider in front of the National Gallery of Canada – are too spectacular to be ignored. (Last June, the Gallery’s Great Hall itself was transformed into an iceberg by Greenlandic artist Inuk Silis Høegh – a positively stunning work included in the exhibition Sakahàn: International Indigenous Art.)

Bikefest’s urban Ottawa Public Art Ride – a new addition to the group ride lineup this year – will visit ten public art sites around town, from John Ceprano’s ephemeral balanced rock sculptures at Remic Rapids to Chantal Gaudet’s controversial gateway to Little Italy. Riders will have a chance to stop and take a good look at the works, and our group ride leader will provide interesting background information on each piece and its artist. In honour of Mothers' Day, the ride will highlight works created by prominent women artists.

We’re lucky here in the capital to be surrounded year-round by engaging art. The Public Art Ride will be a great opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and some unique cultural landmarks – and, we hope, pique your curiosity for more! Continue the discovery by connecting to the National Capital Commission’s Decoding ART program – through which you can access multimedia interpretive information using a QR code reader on your smartphone – visiting Ottawa’s many galleries, and keeping your eyes peeled wherever you go. There are artistic gems all around!

A great new event is set to burst onto the Ottawa cycling scene on May 31 – inspired by a desire to understand and cure a devastating disease.

Lap the Gats for Parkinson’s is a unique race in beautiful Gatineau Park. Riders – solo, or in teams – will be challenged to complete as many loops of a panoramic 21-kilometre course as they can in three hours. Riders can also compete for the title of Queen or King of the Hill on a timed uphill sprint.

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease that affects mobility, balance, and potentially other abilities, causing symptoms such as tremors, rigidity of muscles, slowness and stiffness, fatigue, and more. Although persons can live with Parkinson’s for years, the disease becomes more and more debilitating as it progresses – and at present there is no cure.

The founders of Lap the Gats are two doctors specializing in Parkinson’s research: Dr. David Park, a neuroscientist, and Dr. David Grimes, a clinician and neurologist. Both are avid cyclists, and the idea of starting a fundraising cycling event was born when a patient of Dr. Grimes mentioned that cycling was both physically and mentally beneficial to his symptoms. They've put together the Parkinson's Research Consortium cycling team - which includes Parkinson's patients - a dedicated group that have been training all winter under the guidance of Strategic Performance Consultant Shelley McKay.

“Some of the cyclists on the team, even though they have Parkinson’s, are incredibly strong,” Park told the Ottawa Citizen. “There are some team members who are just starting out, and you can see, as the (indoor) training sessions go on, you can see their improvement.”

Although the Lap the Gats course is suitable for intermediate and advanced riders, and prizes will be awarded for individuals and teams based on how many laps they complete and in what amount of time, the event is first and foremost a fun ride intended to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research. Interested riders can check out the Lap the Gats website, www.lapthegats.org, for registration and award details. Prizes will be awarded to the event’s top fundraisers, too.

Be sure to visit the Lap the Gats team at Bikefest to find out more. You can support the event by registering as a competitor, pledging a donation, volunteering, and coming out to cheer on the riders on May 31!

Meet Lauren Goodhew, one of MEC Ottawa’s expert bike mechanics – a self-professed bike dork and all-around awesome person. Lauren kindly took time out from the non-stop action in our bike shop to talk about her work and share some great advice on keeping your bikes out of the shop.

MEC Bikefest Ottawa: What inspired you to become a bicycle mechanic?

Lauren Goodhew: I actually wanted to be a motorcycle mechanic from a teeny-tiny age. I used to assemble old dirt bikes from scraps, and sometimes they would even look a little like something! I was obsessed. But when I reached a working age, I was living in a town without a motorbike shop. Someone recommended I go into bicycle mechanics, to develop transferable skills I could use later on. Then I met some freeriders – so I started biking and fell in love with the sport. Bicycle mechanics quenched my creative thirst and a provided perfect social arena for the sport I was lovin'.

MEC: What’s the most common problem you run into in the bike shop?

Lauren: I see a lot of problems coming about from dirt, and sometimes the fixes from evil dirt can be quite costly. Dirt can wear away your drive train, eat up your bearings, and damage your paint job – but it’s a simple, easy-to-solve issue that you need next to no technical skills and minimal tools or time to solve. As a mountain biker – a.k.a. a getting-my-bike-extra-dirty biker – I’ve realized the importance of having a clean drive train and cables. Clean your bikes, my fellow biking people! And pump up your tires to the recommendation written on the side of the tire, to get maximum efficiency and protect your rims!

MEC: What’s the most challenging problem you’ve worked on?

Lauren: Most bike companies do a really good job of tailoring a perfect bike to match the needs of the majority of their clientele, but unfortunately some products just don’t exist. I think the biggest challenge – and the most rewarding – is finding or being able to create a unique product for someone – a person with limited mobility, for example. I've had the opportunity to work with cyclists with balance issues, missing limbs, sight impairments, and other significant obstacles. Everyone should get to feel the wind in their hair from the seat of a bike!

MEC: Are there any resources you’d recommend for someone looking to learn more about bikes and bike maintenance?

Lauren: Talk to your local mechanics on the off-season. Most of us bike mechanics are in it for the love of the sport. During the summer months we’re saturated with work and stretched very thin – we’re happy to chat, but we may not have enough time. In the winter months, however, we are still cycle freaks but our appetite is not being quenched for bike-y stuff. So ask us about cycling or mechanic information in the off-season, and we will be more than happy to chat your ear off! Also, try the bike skills courses offered at MEC. The classes are small, so you’ll get individual attention, and they deal with specific, common issues that cyclists face with their bikes.

MEC Ottawa’s home community, Westboro, is bursting with enthusiasm for healthy, active living. Our friends down the street at Pure Yoga Ottawa will be joining us at Bikefest, leading two one-hour practical clinics to show cyclists how to complement their regular training with yoga. Pure’s founders, Jen Dalgleish and Amber Stratton, generously shared some wisdom about why and how to begin integrating yoga and cycling.

MEC Bikefest: How can yoga help cyclists stay fit and healthy?

Pure Yoga Ottawa: The benefits of a regular yoga practice are improved strength, flexibility, injury prevention, endurance, and improved performance. This practice helps to support the underdeveloped muscles that become prone to injury over time, such as the back, core, and upper body. Cyclists tend to have tight hips and hamstrings in particular, but can also suffer from tight backs – yoga brings flexibility to the areas that get too tight, to help maintain a more fluid pedal stroke through long-distance riding and uphill climbing. Some of the non-physical aspects of yoga, such as mental focus and breath awareness, can be just as important to cyclists. Whether you are climbing a hill or sprinting to the finish, you are sure to notice the benefits of breathing on the bike, because it acts as your metronome for movement.

MEC: What should a cyclist’s yoga practice emphasize?

Pure: In cycling, the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hips never rest. As a result, riders often have overdeveloped quadriceps and tight hamstrings, which can pull the hips out of alignment. Also, a cyclist's spine is constantly flexed forward. If proper form isn't maintained, cyclists may experience in muscle pain and strain in the back and shoulders. Here are a few poses that can help ease this type of misalignment:

Benefits: This pose is excellent for promoting balance and opening up tight hamstrings and illiotibial bands.

How to do it: Stand tall with your feet together (Mountain Pose). Step your foot back about three feet and angle the back foot out slightly. Keep both hips facing forward and square your hips. Draw your hands behind your back, bend your arms, and clasp opposite elbows. Inhale as you look up. Open your chest and exhale. Hingeing from the hips, keep your spine long as you fold forward over your top leg.

Benefits: This pose promotes circulation, regulates blood pressure, and helps to replenish our muscles with the cells they need. It also lengthens and strengthens hamstrings, glutes, and the lower back. The best part about this posture is that it also gives you the shoulder strength you need whenever you take an unexpected “dive” off of your bike!

How to do it: Start in a high pushup position with the hands directly under the shoulders. Lift the hips up and back and intend the heels toward the floor to come into an inverted “V” shape. Walk the hands back in toward the feet a couple of inches and lower the heels even further. Spread the fingers wide apart. Press through the palms to lift the hips even higher up and back. Relax the neck and let the head hang.

Benefits: This is the pose to do if you don’t have the time to do anything else! It activates every muscle group in the body and works to stretch and release all the tension that gets built up on your bike.

How to do it: Start by sitting up straight with your legs extended in front of you (Staff Pose). If you find it difficult to sit up straight in Staff Pose, elevate your hips slightly by placing a soft foam block or blanket under your seat. On an exhalation, bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together to touch. Bring your heels towards your pelvis, as close as you can without feeling pressure or pain in your knees. Press the outer edges of your feet firmly into the floor and wrap your hands around your feet or ankles. With the pelvis in a neutral position, begin to open the groins by gently lowering the outer knees towards the floor. Never force your knees down. Stay here, or start to bring your torso toward your toes, bending from the hips to ensure that your spine remains long and neutral, being careful not to round the spine forward.

Remember: The most important part of any stretching in yoga is the connection with breathing. All tension and muscle release comes from working with the body by using deep, steady breaths to help it let go.

MEC: Which classes at Pure are of particular benefit to cyclists?

Pure: Since our cyclist friends are already very active, a restorative or tension-relieving class is optimal. We have plenty of that at Pure! We invite cyclists to try Yin, Yang/Yin, and most of all Tune-Up classes! Class registration and information can be found at www.pureyogaottawa.com

MEC: Anything else you’d like to tell folks at MEC Bikefest?

Pure: We have a special one-month introductory month for people who are looking to get into yoga, but aren’t sure what style suits them! This $40.00 special is available to first time Pure Yogis and allows you to have an unlimited studio practice at BOTH locations – Westboro or Centretown – for 30 days! With cycling season starting up again, it’s a great time to try some different styles and give your body the tender love and care you know it deserves!

The National Capital Greenbelt is one of Ottawa’s natural treasures – featuring two nationally important ecosystems, Mer Bleue and the Medeola Woods – and one of the world’s largest urban parks. It was created in the 1950s as a way to protect the rural land around Ottawa from urban sprawl, and is now the largest publicly-owned greenbelt in the world.

The Greenbelt covers 20,000 hectares, including wetlands, forests, streams, and farms, providing vital habitat and migration corridors for wild species – like the endangered Blandings turtle – and helping to maintain biodiversity. Its trails are enjoyed year-round by outdoor recreation enthusiasts – paths and boardwalks welcome cyclists, in-line skaters, and hikers; skiers and snowshoers will find groomed and ungroomed trails in the winter; and there’s even an equestrian trail for horseback riders.

Bikefest’s Western Greenbelt Ride offers riders of all skill levels a chance to get to know this unique Ottawa gem a little better. The ride will head out toward Shirleys Bay, the Greenbelt’s largest marshland and an excellent spot for bird-watching.

Bushtukah’s Judy Andrew Piel will lead the Western Greenbelt Ride, along with MEC’s own Nancy Copping. Judy is an accomplished cyclist and triathlete - she has completed four Ironman triathlons and is currently training for the World Ironman 70.3 Championships at Mont Tremblant in September.